Rotary engine.



Rl SAUNDERS.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.3.`I917.

Patented Sep-t. 17, 1918.I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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R. SAUNDERS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLlcAnoN F1159 lvl/111.3, 1917.

Patented sepa 17,1918.

R. SAUNDERS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1911.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lROY sAUNnERs, ou sT. Louis, MISSOURI, AssIGNoR 'ro'sAUNnERs noronrownn coivi:-

' PANY, or EAST snIioUIs, ILLINOIS, ,A oonroRATIoN or InLINoIs' ROTARY ENGINE.

'o'aZZ whom t may concern: V.Be it known that I, ROY-SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at the cityof-St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful; Rotary Engine, of which the followingis a specification.,

This invention relates to rotary engines. The object of the invention is to provide an improved and efficient intakeV and eX- liaust valve mechanism for rotary engines. A speciiic object of Athe invention is to provide a novel and elicientmechanisni for controlling the intake and exhaust in rotaryv engines of the type constituting the subjectr` matter of my prior application SerialNo. 101,447 .filed June 3, 1916, although Iit will beA understood that` the present' invention maybe adapted toY and embodied in rotary engines of different construction fromythat shown in said application. Therefore,3 although, I have illustrated and described my and ,exhaust the engine. y

MFig.v 2 is a cross sectional view on the line Z-Z- of Fig. l illustrating the connections for controlling,andoperating the pistons of the engine to and fromv'positions Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 3*-3 :of Fig. '1,' showing the intake and 'theek- -haust passages andthe lconstruction, ofthe valve devices'controlling them.

Fig.' 4 is a sectional view on thelineflf-'Ll of Fig. 1, illustratingavalves mounted in the inlet and .exhaust passages. f

Fig. 5 is a sectional'view illustrating: the

connection between the inlet pipe andthe passage for receiving and conducting the gas fromtheinlet pipe to ,theroto'iz Y Y The engine embodied in which, for pur.- poses of convenience, I have'illustrated"my present invention comprises a cylinder 1 and fs'pecieatio of. Leners raient. Patented sept.l 1:7, 1918; Application filed Marcil s, 1911.7. serial No.'152,236. y I

heads 2 attachedto the cylinder provided withlbearings 3 for the shaftfAewhich is driven bythe rotor.. The rotoris attached to the. shaftft, and is provided'with a series of chambers in vwhich the pivoted 'pistonsl are mounted andA which are moved tofand from positions of Vcompression on opposite sides of .radial lines fromthe shaft t `pass;l

ing `through the axes ofthepistons, respecfV tively. l Thek aXes of two of the pistonsfareindicated bythe reference numeral7 in Fig. 2. The mechanism for actuating the pistons, as

aforesaid, includes levers S-Jattached to the axes ofthe pistons,respectively; links y9 connectingfthe levers with axial bolts 10 of the rollers 11; links 12 connectingpthe bolts 10 with theeiids: of'a lever lpivoted upon the shaft 4;-:arms1on the bolts 10 connected by links 1,5 withpivoted members 16y supported `by a boss on the vend wall of the rotor; and a cam17 attachedto the head of 4the cylinder, upon which thefrollers 11v Operate., Y l

the mechanismfor operating two ofthef'pistons `and the mechanism so illustrated isk mounted withinthecylinder' at one,A end of the rotor, while the mechanism for operatf ing thev .remaining two pistons is mounted within the cylinder at the opposite 'end of the rotor, as in the case of myl said 'application SerialNo. 101,447. `For the purpose of the present description, it is deemed 'suficient to illustrate and describe one of the mechanisms for operating-the pistons since For convenience, illustrated only i the specific constructionv of 'the piston operating mechanism is not claimed herein. The piston operating mechanism operatesv as follows: i

f Asthe rotor revolves .in the direction ,of the arrowsy A inFig. 2the rollers 11 ride uponthe periphery of thecani 17 :As the rollers pass .over the shoulders 18 of the cams the pistonvr aXes y7 that are connected with the respective rollers Ywill controlled for alquarter of a revolution of the roller, sol that vduring theinterval' that thev rollers 11 are passing down the sharp faces ,of the shoulders `18, the forward ends of thelinks15arem0vedrelative to the rear ends of the links 9. When the links 15 have beenthus moved forwardly to the full. eX-

tent of their movement, the rollers `will be drawn forwardly-'over vthe curved surfaces of the cams, ertendingfrom the baseof the y respective shoulders 18 to the high points of said shoulders. This movement gradually rocks the respective pistons to the opposite sides of the chambers in which they are mounted. That is to say, assuming one of the pistons to be in position of compreswardly bythe pressure on the Vpistons acting throughthe links and rollers on the cams 17 as stationary resistance members; as' each rollerl 11 travels from the shoulder at'which the explosion occurred and approaches the apex of the other shoulder, the piston is moved by the link connections and the roller operating on the cam to the same position relative to the rotor that it 'occupied when in position cf compression, and this movement of the piston after explosion effects exhaust; intake of the gas and movement 'of the piston to position of compres sion occurs during movement of the roller on the cam toward the shoulder 18 at which explosion occurred as above described.

The foregoing operating mechanism and the 'mode of operation thereof is the same as that disclosed in my said application Serial No. 101,447, and thev description thereoi' need'not be further extended herein since it is suticient Jfor present purposes to` understand the general mode of operation of the piston to effect intake and exhaust.

Referring next to the intake kand exhaust mechanism, a part of which constitutes the subject-matter of' the present invention, it will be observed by reference to Figs. 1 and 5 that one ofthe ends of the rotor is formed with an extended hub 19. The outer extremity of the hub 19 is in the form of a truncated cone. The hub is provided with a series of passages 20 therein opening into the valve chambers 21 which communicate with passages 22 through the end wall oi the rotor, opening into the piston chainbers, respectively. Each valve chamber 21 ysupports a valve 23 movable to and from Y icient for present purposes to understand that the valves 23 are arranged to be operated in conformity with the operation of the rotor to permit intake and exhaust as yfthe engine operates.Y Y

A member 24 is mounted on the shaft 4 so that the shaft rotates within said member.l The member 24 is formed with a projecting part 25 fitting against the oblique closed by the member 24-25, said member acting as a species of valve to close the passages 20 when they are out of communication with the intake and exhaust passages of the engine.

The inlet passage is in the form of a pipe 27 having a head 28 at its inner end shaped to lit closely within a recess or space formed between the hub 19 and the member 24; The head 28 has a lateral outlet'29 which communicates with the passages 20 successively as therotor revolves, so that the gas being forced through the pipe 27 is admitted to the piston chambers alternately, it being understood that thel passage 29 is closed by the beveled wall of the hub 19 between the passages 20. Y

The pipe 27 is yieldingly held in position so that it may yield or move slightly to 4accommodate and f adjust itself to maintain close connection with the coperating parts under varying conditions and to compensate for any varying of the parts that might occur. For this purpose the pipe is mounted within a supporting sleeve 30, bolted to the cylinder Vand provided with an exteriorly threaded portion. The sleeve 30 isencircled by a relatively movable sleeve `31, the outer extremity ofwhich is provided with a channel 32 serving as a seat for the outer end of a spring 33, the inner end of which abuts against a flange 34 on the pipe 27. Thus, the spring 33 actuates the' pipe inwardly, hold.- ing it at all times with properv pressure against the valve seat to permit any varia'- tion or adjust-ment o1' the passage that may be required. rilhe tension of the spring 33 may varied to increase orreduce pressure with whichthe pipe is held'against the valve seat. F or this purpose there are a number of pins 35 mounted in holes in the sleeve mem ber 30 and having their inner ends bearing against the spring seat 32 and their outer ends projecting beyond the end of thesleeve member 30. A cap nut 3G screws onto the threaded portion of the sleeve member 30 and engages the ends of the pins 35, so that by adjusting the cap member in diterent positions the tension-.of the springs maybe varied. Y y

The exhaust device is quite similar in construction and arrangement to the intake, and comprises a pipe 37 adjustably mounted in a sleeve member 38 and provided with a head 39 at its inner end matching and fitting between the oblique end wall ofthe hub 19, and the adjacent oblique wall of the member 24. The head 39 is formed with an elongated slot 40 which'is of `sufficient length Vso tofpermit two of the passages 20 to register therewith at the same time, and which' is in registration with each passage 20'for about one-fourth of each revolution of the rotor, inj order to permit all of the exhaust to be forced out `of the piston chambers as the pistonsmove in. the direction to yeffect exhaust, as above described. a ,i

The head of the passage 37 is yieldingly retained in position by mechanism similar to that associated with the pipe 27, including a sleeve 4l having a spring seat 42 for the spring 43, the opposite end of-Which bears against a spring seat 44 on the pipe 37Sv Pins 45 are mounted in holesin the sleeve inember 38 and have theirinner ends bearing against the flange 42 and their outer ends extending' beyond the end of the threaded portion of the sleeve 38 and pressed inwardly by a nut 4G. By adjustment of the nut 46 in `diiferent positions the tension of the spring 43 may be varied to regulate the pressure by which the head 39 is'held against its seat.

From the foregoingit Will be understood that the essence of-my present invention is in the construction, arrangement and mode of operation of the intake .and .exhaust passages, and the means by which -they vare controlled and causedto perform their func-v tions.

Obviously, the specific construction may be varied without departing from the prin-x ciple and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire vto secure by Letters Patent, isz'- V l. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor mounted in the cylinder, a passage through one wall of the rotor for admitting gas thereto and exhausting the pr'oducts'of combustion therefrom, a valvecarried Ibytherotor for controlling'said passage, a pipe supported by the cylinder' for admittinggas into said passage, a resilient device holding the pipe in position to admit gas intothe'passage, and a pipe supported by the cylinder and being alternately'in and outofcommm nication with said passagefor receiving and conducting therefrom the products of com-V bustion. v`

2. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor mounted in the cylinder, a passage through one wall ofthe rotor foradmitting gas to the rotor and conducting products of combustion therefrom, a valve carried by the rotor for controlling' said passage, .a pipe supported independently of the rotor for admitting gas into said passage, an additional pipe supported independently 0f the rotor for receiving and conducting-the products.

of combustion from said passage, said pipes being alternately in and out of communication with said passage as the rotor rotates, and a resilient device for each of said pipes holding the same in position to communicate vof said resilient means. l

G.V In a rotary engine, al cylinder, a-'rotor I alternately with said passage as the rotor revolves;

In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a yrotor.

mounted inthe cylinder Vand provided withA piston chambers,-passages through one Wally of the rotorropening into said chambers respectively,y apipe supported by the cylinder, a seat against which saidpipe is held as the rotor rotates, and apassage from saidpipe alternately in land out of communication l'with the ypassages throughthe wall: of the rotor for admitting gas thereto ias thel rotor rotates. A p 4.l In a rotary engine, aV cylinder,y a rotor mounted in the cylinder-and having piston chambers therein and including an endwall, V

lpassages through the end wall of the rotor openingv into said chambers respectively, al

pipe supported by theA cylinder and bearing against a partl of .said end Y,Wall andfhaving;

van opening communicating` with said passages alternately as the rotor rotates, and

, resilient means holding saidpipe inthe po:

sition aforesaid. A A

5. In a rotary engine, a-cyllnder, arotor Vmounted inthe cylinder and having piston ent means holding said-pipe. in the position i aforesaid, and means for varying the tension mounted in the cylinder and including? anV Y end wall, passages through said end Wall' for admitting gas into. the rotor, valves supportedxbyjthe rotor:` for controllingsaid passages, andan inlet pipe supported fby. the cylinder in position so that said passages are alternately brought into `and out of 'communication therewith. p.

7 Ina rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor mounted, in the cylinder'. and including lan v end wall, passages through `said end Wall for admitting gas into thel rotor, `valves, supported by therotorfor controlling said passages, ,an inletpipe. supported by the cylinderinposition so that said passages-are alternately brought into vand outof com1nuV nication therewith, and means retainingisaid pipe in the position aforesaid-,andfpermitting yielding movement offsaidf'pipe.v

8. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor in the cylinder includinglpiston chambers and having an end wall, passages through the end-wall-of the rotor communicating "lvvi'thsaidchambers respectively for admitting gas into and exhausting the products of explosion from the chambers of the rotor, valves supported by the rotor for controlling said passages, an inlet pipe supported lby the cylinder in position so that said passages are alternately moved into and out of communication therewith as the rotor rotates, and an exhaust pipe also supported by the cylinder in position so that. the passages through the rotor Wall are moved into communication therewith prior to communicating With the inlet pipe.

9; In a rotary engine, a rotor, an end Wall on the rotor, a hub in connection with the end Wall having a beveled peripheral surface at its end, passages through said hub and through said end Wall for admitting gas intoV and exhausting the explosive products from the rotor, valves carried by the hub for controlling said passages, an inlet pipe supported by the cylinder for admitting gas into said passages alternately, and an additional pipe supported by ythe cylinder for receiving the explosive products from said passages successively.

10. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor in `the cylinder including an' end wall, a hub in connection With the end Wall having a peripheral beveled surface at its end, passages through said end Wall and through said hub opening from said beveledV surface, valves carried by the hub forcontrolling said passages, an inlet pipe bearing againstsaidbeveled surface for admitting gas into said passages successively, an `exhaust pipe supported by the cylinder and bearing against said beveled surface for receiving` the explosive products from said passages successively, and means for varying the pressure With which said pipes beai` against said beveled surface.

11. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor in the cylinder including an end wall, a hub in connection with the end Wall, passages through said end Wall and through said hub for admitting gas into and exhausting` the explosive products from the rotor, valves carried by thehub for controlling said pas sages, an inlet pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the hub for admitting gas into said passages successively, an exhaust pipe supported by the cylinder bearing` against the hub for receiving the explosive products from said passages suc cessively, Vand a device closing said passagesI during their movement from the inlet pipe to the exhaust pipe.

' 12. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor in the cylinder Yincluding an end Wall, a hub in connection With` the end Wall, passages through said end Wall and through said hub for admitting` gas into and ex- Copes of this patent may be obtained for explosive products from the rotor, valves carried by the hub for controlling said passages, van .inlet pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the hub for admitting` gas into said passages successively, an exhaust pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the hub for receiving the explosive products vfrom saidpassages successively, resilient devices for holding said pipes yieldingly against the hub, and a device closing said passagesduring their movement from the inlet pipe to the exhaust pipe.

13. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor in the cylinder including an end Wall, a hub in connection Wit-hv the end Wall, passages through said end Wall and through said hub for admitting gas into andexhausting the explosive products from the rotor, valves carried by the hub for controlling said passages, an inlet pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the hub for hausting the 4 admitting gas yinto said passages successively, an exhaust pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the hub for receiving the explosive products from said passages successively, resilient devices for holding said pipes yieldingly against the hub, means for varying the tension of said resilient devices to vary the pressureV of said pipes against the hub, and a device closing said passages during their movement from the inlet pipe to the exhaust pipe.

14. In a rotary engine, a cylinder, a rotor Within `the cylinder including `an end Wall, a hub in connection With the end Wall, a shaft journaled in the cylinder and driven by the rotor and extending through said hub, passages through lsaid end Wall and through said hub, valves supported by the hub for controlling said passages, an inlet pipe supported bythe cylinder bearing` against the hub for admitting gas into said passages successively, an exhaust :pipe supported by the cylinder bearing against the liubfor exhausting the explosive products from said passages successivelyadjustable devices for pressing said pipes against saidv hub, a device supported by said shaft and relative to which the shaft revolves for closing said passages during their move-v ment from the inlet pipe to the exhaust pipe as the rotor revolves, andmeans for holding said device in position to close said' passages as aforesaid.

In Witness whereof, I have signed this specification.

ROY SAUNDERS.

ve cents each, by addressing the l Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. Y 

